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Participation in the Conference “Challenges for Coexistence and Peace in Cities”

Report from Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace

Mayor Josep Mayoral of Granollers, which is a Vice President City and the Lead City of the Catalan Chapter, partici-pated in the conference “Challenges for Coexistence and Peace in Cities” held in Madrid on December 1 and 2, 2017. The event was organized by the Spanish Association of Research for Peace (AIPAZ) and the Institute of Human Rights, Democracy and Culture of Peace and Non-Violence (DEMOSPAZ) and supported by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and the Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace.

During the discussion day, the conference attendees reflected on peace and coexistence in their local agendas and considered the opportunities and challenges they face at the local level. They also discussed local vulnerabilities and how to create global peace. The event brought together representatives of local governments, academics, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society.

Mayor Mayoral took part as a speaker in the plenary meeting “Local Agenda for Peace and Coexistence” along with Mayor Tania Baños of la Vall d'Uixó, Mayor David Lucas of Móstoles, Mayor Alberto Casero of Trujillo, and Mr. Antonio Zurita, General Director of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities. The attendees analyzed the role of cities in building and promoting a culture of peace. Mayor Mayoral highlighted that, “Cities cannot build using ab-stract speech. They should accompany citizens in dialogue and mediation. They should take responsibility for assign-ing spaces for building relationships, community participation, and actively working for peace. Working for peace means intervening in conflicts and having a global-local strategy.”

In the evening, Mayor Mayoral participated in the plenary discussion “Opportunities and Challenges for Coexistence and Peace in Cities” along with organizations of civil society and mass communication. He mentioned, “We are living in the century of cities: These days cities have an enormous potential, their capacity to achieve changes is higher than the capacity of States. For that reason one of our major challenges is building shared histories with those in proximity to us and dialogues for peace.”

The conference finished with a participatory session about a diagnosis of violence in Madrid and its contrast with other cities.